User Reviews

"The Pharaoh's in a Rut" opens with Bruce Wayne set to hurtle to his death on a hospital gurney, only to free himself from his bonds and escape going over the cliff. Undeterred, King Tut (Victor Buono) still intends to kidnap Bruce Wayne, only this time Batman is prepared to let him do it, using a dummy of Wayne asleep on the sofa, to be replaced by the Caped Crusader under the blanket. Captured by the pharaoh, he winds up joining the luscious Nefertiti (Ziva Rodann) under the dreaded Theban pebble torture, a thousand tiny pebbles dropped one by one on their heads, leaving them both empty headed slaves to King Tut's every whim. When he instructs them to dance to Bat music we get a second rendition of the first episode's Batusi, the enchanting Ziva as much a mover and groover as Jill St. John. On Batman's part of course it's all a clever ruse, and with Robin locating Tut's secret hideout it's finally just a matter of retrieving the Batmobile from the fleeing pharaoh. Another bop on the head may restore King Tut to his professorial profession, but it's only a matter of time before ancient Egypt, like the sphinx, rises again. Israel born beauty Ziva Rodann, nearing the end of her career (among her early roles the 1957 "Pharaoh's Curse"), was only the first of King Tut's sexy consorts, her calls of 'Tut, Tut' most endearing, though he doesn't approve of her fondness for hot dogs!

An Egyptian figure appears in the Gotham City Park proclaiming threats to the population. King Tut is behind these events and as part of his plan he kidnaps Bruce Wayne, who nearly dies in his escape. Assuming that the villain tried a new kidnapping, Batman sets a trap for him and takes his place, but is discovered and subjected to a ritual of psychological torture by the sinister monarch, Robin and Alfred must go to his rescue. A great adventure from start to finish, with excellent performances by Victor Buono and Ziva Roddan. The episode features one of the series' most iconic scenes with Batman pretending to be in a trance and batusi dancing, and an electrifying finale as Tut flees aboard the Batmobile and is chased by Batman, Robin, and Alfred aboard the royal truck. Villain. The success of this chapter and the excellent reviews of Victor Buono's work made this villain, who was going to star only in this episode, end up returning and becoming one of the most remembered characters in the series.